On August 1, Nintendo signed a comprehensive contract regarding the use of copyrighted works with Cover Corporation, which operates the Virtual YouTuber (VTuber) office “hololive Production”.
A variety of responses are spreading over the signing of the contract between Nintendo and Cover.
On June 1, Nintendo signed a comprehensive contract regarding the use of copyrighted works with Ichikara Inc., which operates the Virtual YouTuber (VTuber) / Virtual Liver Group “NIJISANJI”.
As a result, Ichikara will be able to post content and monetize using Nintendo games copyrighted work, and NIJISANJI’s affiliated talent will be able to perform live streaming distribution of Nintendo games in a certified form.
On the other hand, it has been pointed out that the company’s VTuber offices and operating companies other than NIJISANJI are making monetization distribution without permission from Nintendo due to the conclusion of the contract with Nintendo. In particular, hololive Production, which is a large office alongside NIJISANJI, came under the brunt of criticism, which resulted in the apology of Cover.
Due to the above-mentioned series of events, there was a view that it is difficult for VTuber offices other than NIJISANJI to conclude a comprehensive contract with Nintendo early.
In fact, VTuber offices other than NIJISANJI have adopted a compromise to deliver Nintendo games in a manner that complies with Nintendo’s “Live Streaming Guidelines for Individuals”.
However, on August 1, just two months after the contract between Nintendo and Ichikara, Nintendo signed a new comprehensive contract regarding the use of copyrighted works with Cover, which operates hololive Production.
It is especially surprising “The comprehensive contract between Nintendo and Cover was “Too Early Signed” within two months after Ichikara”.
Cover has received a problem with unlicensed distribution in hololive Production, and the swearing that the rule for using copyrighted material is sloppy is spreading among Japanese viewers. Therefore, there was a view that it is unlikely that Nintendo and other videogame conpanies will be able to conclude a comprehensive contract for the use of copyrighted works with Cover at an early stage, but this time the reputation has been overturned.
This time, the “Comprehensive speed agreement” for copyright with Nintendo by Cover is a kind of “Cunning” and “Good Luck” of the company and hololive Production. It seems that it has a different “Strength” than the offices of other companies, which have declined less than a year after their rise due to problems and disappeared from the front stage.
On the other hand, Ichikara may hate this move. The true feeling is that the sight of another company signing the same comprehensive contract in just two months, which has caused problems with the use of copyrighted material, is by no means pleasant.
As a result, losing the pride of being the only company and office that has signed a comprehensive contract for the use of Nintendo copyrighted works in the VTuber company in this way cannot be overshadowed by disappointment. Is more than you can guess.
What this Nintendo series of movements has revealed is that “Nintendo’s presence as an important player in the current VTuber industry has never been higher.“
The VTuber industry is saying goodbye to the old “Big 4” era and is entering a new era. It’s not just production. The fact that right holders such as Nintendo this time and new players such as Nippon Television Network Corporation, which is making a full-scale entry into the VTuber business, are becoming more and more influential is in front of us.
Greater swells will occur in the future… The series of events between Nintendo and VTuber companies may be just the beginning.
Nippon Television “V-Clan” / Nintendo
(Writer: Apollo Captain)
